A recent post on X (formerly Twitter) about the grueling experience of "manually mosaicking adult videos" has blown up in Japan. One user shared their journey into the job, initially thinking it would be a breeze. Just five days in, they were hit with the harsh reality, lamenting, "Are there some jobs in this world that we really wouldn't mind if AI took over?"
The post quickly became a viral sensation, with many exclaiming, "So this job actually exists!" and numerous veterans of the trade chiming in with their own horror stories.
The original poster (OP) explained that the job demands staring at intimate parts of men and women on screen for extended periods, frame by frame, in slow motion, adding mosaics to each individual frame. They described spending eight hours a day watching the same footage, which "really makes you start to question your life choices." Given the nature of the work, they felt completely fine with AI taking over.
However, they added that despite the tough content, the workplace vibe was good, and colleagues were friendly, often sharing snacks. This camaraderie, they said, was enough to make them "stick it out a bit longer."
▼ Mosaic illustration.
The post resonated instantly. One netizen quipped, "Only someone who stares at private parts for eight hours a day could say something like that." Another joked that "her single line 'I don't mind if AI takes over' is more convincing than scholars writing hundreds of pages on AI and employment." The OP themselves self-deprecatingly declared, "This is not a job for humans (bold statement)."
The post unexpectedly drew out a flock of "mosaic veterans." One user who had worked in the field revealed that mosaics are almost entirely done by hand. Tracking features often drift, forcing them to go back and correct frame by frame. Even a mere 10-minute video is mentally exhausting, let alone longer footage.
Another pointed out that outdoor shoots are even more of a nightmare due to complex backgrounds, where even random pedestrians or animals caught on camera might need to be censored. They even heard tales of censoring deer in wilderness shoots! As for scenes with multiple people or crowd shots, those are "breakdown-level" difficult.
Amidst the discussion, some mentioned that while AI can assist with image recognition, it's incredibly difficult for a computer to precisely determine the "just right" area for censorship. The human intuition for boundaries and perfect placement remains largely irreplaceable.
One netizen wryly observed the dark humor in the situation: AI is now being used to "remove" mosaics, while humans are stuck "adding" them, creating a bizarre contrast.
The entire comment thread attracted a massive audience, with some expressing surprise: "How did so many people who've done this job suddenly appear?" Others mused, "So this job really does exist." To those who expressed curiosity about trying it, the OP flat-out advised, "Seriously, I don't recommend it..."
via： togetter